Photographs from a small group of islands
The Japanese Sumo Association has announced that a 110 strong group (consisting of wrestlers, referees, and ushers) will take part in a three-day exhibition tour of Las Vegas this autumn. An event that should produce a few memorable images if nothing else.
Especially if the distinctive looking Toki could manage to squeeze his bulk and his sideburns into a white Elvis-esque jumpsuit.
And it would be even better if the other sumo wrestler to sport sideburns, “tiny†Takanotsuru, joined him.
Before each of the six annual sumo tournaments, a banzuke is released.
Banzuke – like the badly photographed one above – are ranking sheets that not only list all the wrestlers (around 600), but also all the staff connected with the sport. And as each tournament has a hand written original with a unique calligraphy style, they are practically works of art.
This type of banzuke has been around since 1757, and due to a rather tenuous link to the sumo world, I have acquired an extra one that I’m willing to post off to a Tokyo Times reader. If you are in any way interested, leave a comment below. The one that either amuses or interests me the most will receive the pictured banzuke, plus a photograph from the recent tournament if I can get my pictures developed in time.
The world of sumo is unsurprisingly a very traditional one. Wrestlers are expected to know their place in the sports strict hierarchy, and personal conduct is of the utmost importance.
Yet one sumo tradition that doesn’t always go down too well is that women are not allowed onto the dohyo (wrestling ring). Even during an award ceremony.
With sumo’s links to Shinto, the dohyo is considered sacred. Meaning wrestlers must throw salt onto the ring as an act of purification before they enter. And the problem this holds for women is that due to the bleeding associated with menstruation and childbirth, they are considered unclean.
But this being the 21st Century, such blatant discrimination is understandably frowned upon. Yet for sumo fans, the issue is far from clear-cut. Professor Yoshihiro Oinuma of Tokai University, polled 165 visitors about the problem at the 2004 November tournament. Of the respondents, 52% said they believed women should be allowed onto the dohyo during the award ceremony, whilst the remaining 48% disagreed.
In regards to the ban in general, 62% of fans felt that it should be maintained, whilst 52% said the issue should only be decided by sumo association officials. And in a grand gesture of indecisiveness, coupled with a large dollop of ambiguity, 75% said that generally speaking, they wanted to maintain groups that try to keep their own traditions.
Sumo stable master Takasago said, “I don’t think the results of the poll alone show a decisive trend.”
I think he may be right.
But judging by the picture below, perhaps those sticklers to tradition have a point after all.
As we are currently about halfway through the January Grand Sumo Tournament, I thought I’d treat you to a picture from my 2005 Sumo Calendar.
And before you scoff, I didn’t actually buy it. It was a present.
No really, it was. Honest.
Anyway, before my denials get so desperate as to make me sound even guiltier, it’s time for the promised picture. But as an added bonus, one of the wrestlers is from Georgia in Eastern Europe. Can you spot him?
As a keen follower of swimwear fiber development, I’m happy to announce that Synthetic fiber-maker Toray Industries has unveiled its 2005 swimsuit line-up.
And as luck would have it, campaign girl Sayaka Ogata kindly tried on one of the new designs for the cameras.
I could try and justify such a gratuitous shot of a young lady in a swimsuit by describing the fabrics used, colours available, cost etc.
But I won’t.